58 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT. 



trouble which this matter gave him, Mr. North 

 immediately suggested that the simplest and 

 best expedient would be, to make a deed of 

 gift of all his property to his nephews, and to 

 declare, by another deed, that he made it over 

 in trust for himself during the continuance of 

 his life; and, afterwards, for such purposes as he 

 should appoint. The Archbishop was much 

 pleased with this suggestion, and begged him 

 to draw up a form of the deed ; he immediately 

 complied, and left directions in writing for filling 

 up the blanks. " It touched my spirits ex- 

 tremely," says Mr. North, in giving an account 

 of this visit, '' to see the low estate of this poor 

 old saint ; and with what wonderful regard and 

 humility he treated those who visited him, and 

 who were not worthy to serve him, and parti- 

 cularly myself."* Mr. North, having performed 

 this service, took the blessing of the dying Arch- 

 bishop, and left him after a short visit of about 

 an hour. 



During the whole course of his languishing 

 sickness, we are told by those who had the 

 nearest access to him, there was not the least 

 appearance of disturbance or discomposure ; 

 but the same meekness of spirit which had 

 always calmed his passions under former dis- 



* See Gutch's Miscell. Curiosa, vol. i. pref. p. xxxix. 



